MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact will be back at Stade Saputo this Saturday night to take on the Chicago Fire at 7:30pm EDT (TVA Sports [pregame show at 7pm], 98,5fm [pregame show at 6:30pm] & TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 7pm]) in the first of two home games in five days. This game will be presented by Uniprix.
A limited number of excellent tickets for reserved seats in the grey category, as well as general admission tickets, are still available on impactmontreal.com.
“Chicago is not in a great place in the standings, but they are still going to come here looking to win,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “They are a team that we will respect from the opening whistle. They have made several changes recently, which means that we have to be ready for anything. We have to go out there and do whatever it takes to get the win.”
The Impact advises supporters to get to Stade Saputo early and to use public transit. Pie-IX Blvd. will be partially closed in the northbound direction, from Pierre-de-Coubertin Ave. to Mont-Royal Ave., preventing vehicles from turning right on Sherbrooke East St. Traffic disruptions are also scheduled on Pierre-de-Coubertin Ave., between Viau St. and Pie-IX Blvd., until the end of the season.
Reaching Stade Saputo via Hochelaga St. in the westbound direction may also be complicated due to roadwork and water main breaks. The Impact recommends avoiding this section of Hochelaga St., driving north on L’Assomption Blvd., west on Sherbrooke St. and south on Viau St.
The renewal period for season tickets is open, and guests who have already renewed their membership for 2017 can mention it on social media with the hashtag #DerriereIMFC and visit the Members Corner, under section 126, where they will receive a Bleu-blanc-noir waterproof bag. Moreover, during the evening, six members who have renewed for 2017 will get a $200 gift card at the Stade Saputo concession stands for next season.
Please also take note of the full implementation of new security measures upon entering the stadium. All bags larger than 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm are prohibited. The full rules and regulations can be viewed on impactmontreal.com.
100 starts for Camara
A Bleu-blanc-noir fixture since 2011, defender Hassoun Camara could add a chapter in the Impact history book this Saturday as he may become the first player to start 100 MLS games for the club. Slowed down by injuries in 2015, Camara came back stronger than ever this season; he has tallied one goal and two assists in 18 games. The French defender has scored a goal every season that he has been in Montreal apart from that ill-fated 2015 season.
“We’re determined not to repeat the mistakes that we committed last weekend,” said Hernán Bernardello. “All games are difficult, but we especially have to be solid at home. We want to fight for the top honours, and we have to do things well, but we have to approach this one game at a time.”
Forward Didier Drogba will get reacquainted with the Chicago Fire, a favourite target of his against which he has already scored five goals. In 25 career MLS games – a landmark that he passed last Saturday in New Jersey –, Drogba has scored 19 goals and delivered 6 assists over 1,966 minutes of play.
Drogba also set the record for the most consecutive games with a goal or an assist, stringing five such games together from April 4 to May 28, 2016. However, forward Matteo Mancosu has tallied a goal or an assist in his last four appearances; he made the last pass for Nacho Piatti’s goal in Montreal’s last game, a 3-1 defeat at New York Red Bulls.
The Impact will be without full back Ambroise Oyongo, who was sent off last Saturday against the Red Bulls. Oyongo will serve an automatic one-game suspension.
Frustrating season for Chicago
Unbeaten in four games against Chicago at Stade Saputo, the Impact thrilled its home crowd when the Fire last visited, on September 5, 2015. A Didier Drogba hat-trick and a beautiful header from Wandrille Lefèvre on a corner kick gave the Bleu-blanc-noir a 4-3 win.
“The next three games could put us in a good position for the playoffs,” said Ignacio Piatti. “This is the mentality that the entire team has adopted. This game against Chicago will be tough. They are a team with nothing to lose, but their place in the standings doesn’t matter. We have to win at home.”
Dead last in the MLS Supporters’ Shield Standings with 19 points taken from 22 games, the Fire hasn’t won away from home for 36 games; its last road win dates back to July 12, 2014. In its last game, last Sunday, the Fire tied Orlando City, 2-2. John Goossens opened the scoring for Chicago before Cyle Larin and Kaká replied for the Lions. But Razvan Cocis equalized 12 minutes from full time to salvage a point for Chicago.
A full roster is expected to be available for head coach Veljko Paunovic, the only exception being defender João Meira, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Following game
The Impact will then play this Wednesday, August 24, at 7:30pm against D.C. United at Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com.
